It was 17 years ago tonight that Baltimore Oriole, Cal Ripken, broke the all-time games played record that had stood for more 56 years and was considered unbreakable. It was a magical night.
All season long, they’d had numbers of games Cal had played on the side of the warehouse that adjoins Camden Yards in Baltimore.
I hadn’t been able to get tickets to the game – they were sold out months in advance to people who’d calculated which date Cal would break the record – but I did go a week or so before the record fell. The stadium was packed and the crowd cheered for a good 10 minutes when the game became official, all because they wanted to pay personal tribute to Cal Ripken. 
There were so many special moments that evening – especially the presence of Joe DiMaggio, one of Lou Gehrig’s Yankees team-mates, 
After the game became official in the 7th inning, the reticent Cal Ripken jogged to the Orioles dugout to the huge cheers of the crowd, the glitter of hundreds of flashes going off, and tons of confetti raining down. But his team-mates had to pull him back on the field to acknowledge the crowd, because the game couldn’t continue until the cheering stopped – 22 minutes later.
His parents, Vi and Cal, Sr. were a big part of the evening, Cal, Sr. having been a long-time coach and manager of the team, and the originator of the “Oriole Way”. 
With an eye towards erasing another part of Lou Gehrig’s other legacy, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease (ALS), a special section of on-field seats were sold for $5,000 each, and the $1 million benefited the Robert Packard Center for ALS at Johns Hopkins.
In 2007, Cal was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame with 98.5% of the votes. 
I remember that night so vividly too. I coudln't get tickets either but I remember being glued to the TV set, watching the whole game and crying tears of joy in the 7th inning. I remember so many of the speeches, the guests, and more. And wasn't that freaky about Vi Ripken's kidnapping? That story is just weird.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I was bawling like a baby. He and I are about the same age and we used to see him at Memorial Stadium, and then at Mount Washington Tavern afterwards. Such fun.
DeleteI cannot believe that that was 17 years ago.
ReplyDeleteIt's shocking, isn't it.
Delete17 years. I thought the 20th anniversary of the stadium made me feel old, but this seems like it was just a year or two ago. Amazing. I'm glad the team has been in the midst of a pennant race during these sculpture unveilings. It would have been too depressing otherwise. 15 years of Angelos' care has been devastating to the rich legacy of the club.
ReplyDeleteI was so excited by our win on thursday night!
DeleteCan't get enough of Cal Ripken!+wow 17 years ago? xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteCal made Baltimore very proud!
DeleteWho doesn't love those baby blues? Cal's the man.
ReplyDeleteit is those ice blue eyes. and i loved loved loved cal, sr. i was driving home from work when i heard that he'd died and just started crying in the car. he was such a great guy. so stoic.
DeleteI hadn't heard of Cal Ripkin but loved reading about him. my son (sport fanatic ) knew all about him though.
ReplyDeleteHe's amazing... one of those slow-and-steady guys. No flash, no scandals, just a hard worker.
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